Imaging device

Abstract

There are provided an imaging device and an electronic device that minimize an ineffective region inside a pixel and achieve reduction in size, high SN, high sensitivity, high resolution, and a reduced afterimage.

1 . An imaging device having a plurality of pixels having a plurality of vertexes periodically arranged on a plane, the imaging device being characterized in that:
 each of the plurality of pixels is configured to include
 a light receiving unit that photoelectrically converts incident light to generate signal charge, 
 a signal holding unit that holds the signal charge transferred from the light receiving unit, and 
 an output unit that detects the signal charge read out from the signal holding unit; 
   the output unit is located at one of the vertexes of the pixel; and   the signal holding unit is located between the light receiving unit and the output unit.   
     
     
         2 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 in a case where the pixel includes any one of   a transfer unit between the light receiving unit and the signal holding unit, and   a reading unit between the signal holding unit and the output unit,   any one of the transfer unit and the reading unit and the signal holding unit are linearly arranged between the light receiving unit and the output unit.   
     
     
         3 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 in a case where the pixel includes both of   a transfer unit between the light receiving unit and the signal holding unit, and   a reading unit between the signal holding unit and the output unit,   the transfer unit, the signal holding unit, and the reading unit are linearly arranged between the light receiving unit and the output unit.   
     
     
         4 . The imaging device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that
 in a case where the pixel includes the transfer unit,   an electrode included in the signal holding unit and an electrode included in the transfer unit are integrated, or   common voltage is applied to the electrode included in the signal holding unit and the electrode of the transfer unit.   
     
     
         5 . The imaging device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that
 in a case where the pixel includes the transfer unit,   an electrode included in the signal holding unit and an electrode included in the transfer unit are integrated, or   common voltage is applied to the electrode included in the signal holding unit and the electrode of the transfer unit.   
     
     
         6 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 in the pixel,   the signal holding unit is configured to use an N type semiconductor layer for signal holding in a MOS type structure including an electrode, an oxide film, and a semiconductor, and   voltage of the electrode unit is zero or negative voltage during a period in which the signal charge is held in the signal holding unit.   
     
     
         7 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 in the pixel,   a shape of a boundary region between the signal holding unit and the light receiving unit has   an inclination of less than 90 degrees   with respect to a shape of a boundary region   with the pixel adjacent to the pixel.   
     
     
         8 . The imaging device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that
 the pixels are arranged in a matrix along two axes intersecting at 90 degrees on an arranged plane.   
     
     
         9 . The imaging device according to  claim 7 , characterized in that the inclination is ±45 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 a shape of the pixel having the plurality of vertexes is   rectangular, square, rhombic, trapezoidal, or curved.   
     
     
         11 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 a shape of a boundary region between the signal holding unit and the light receiving unit is   a partial side of a polygon having an even number of sides,   a partial side of a polygon obtained by rotating the polygon having an even number of sides by an angle of [180 degrees/(the even number)], or   a part of an arc.   
     
     
         12 . The imaging device according to  claim 11 , characterized in that
 the shape of a boundary region between the signal holding unit and the light receiving unit is   a shape in which an uneven portion is provided on a side of a part of the polygon, or   a shape in which an uneven portion is provided in the arc.   
     
     
         13 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the signal holding unit is a polygon having more sides than a quadrangle. 
     
     
         14 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 A plurality of the pixels is   arranged in a staggered manner.   
     
     
         15 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 in a plurality of the pixels arranged in a staggered manner,   a pixel in an n-th row of a staggered array and   a pixel in an n+1-th row of the staggered array are   adjacent to each other in an oblique direction with respect to a row direction.   
     
     
         16 . The imaging device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that
 A plurality of the pixels is   arranged in a staggered manner.   
     
     
         17 . The imaging device according to  claim 2 , characterized in that
 in a plurality of the pixels arranged in a staggered manner,   a pixel in an n-th row of a staggered array and   a pixel in an n+1-th row of the staggered array are   adjacent to each other in an oblique direction with respect to a row direction.   
     
     
         18 . The imaging device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that
 A plurality of the pixels is   arranged in a staggered manner.   
     
     
         19 . The imaging device according to  claim 3 , characterized in that
 in a plurality of the pixels arranged in a staggered manner,   a pixel in an n-th row of a staggered array and   a pixel in an n+1-th row of the staggered array are   adjacent to each other in an oblique direction with respect to a row direction.   
     
     
         20 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 in the pixel,   the signal holding units are provided in at least two or more locations.   
     
     
         21 . The imaging device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that
 in the pixel,   the output unit is shared by two or more adjacent ones of the pixels.   
     
     
         22 . The imaging device according to  claim 14 , characterized in that
 in the pixels,   the output unit is shared by two or more adjacent ones of the pixels.   
     
     
         23 . The imaging device according to  claim 16 , characterized in that
 in the pixel,   the output unit is shared by two or more adjacent ones of the pixels.   
     
     
         24 . The imaging device according to  claim 18 , characterized in that
 in the pixels,   the output unit is shared by two or more adjacent ones of the pixels.